Tire.



No 665505. L Patented lan. a, ao. KELLY.

TIBE.

(Application filed Feb. 14. 1900.)

(No ll odei.)

witnesses I V w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES KELLY, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO N. DU BOIS STRAYER AND JAMES FERGUSON, OF SAME PLACE.

TIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,(305, dated. January 8, 1901.

Application filed February 14, 1900. Serial No. 5.186. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may cancer-n:

Be it known that I, JAMES KELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Passaie, in the county of Passaic and Stat-e of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tires; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in tires for vehicles, and more particularly to that type or class of tires which are formed of rubber having a hollow interior and in which chamber are placed a series of yieldable balls.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a tire which is particularly adapted for use in connection with heavy vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks, carriages, &0. I-Ieretofore in the Construction of tires of this type the balls have either been inflated or have been securely held in position, and it has also been suggested to fill the tire with a series ot' objects, so that should the tire be of the pneumatic type and be punctured the weight of the vehicle would he carried by the objects contained thei-ein. In my invention I em ploy a series of balls, making them conveniently and preferably solid. These balls are made to fit closely within the chamber of the tire and are so made as to move independently one of the other.

It also relates to improvements in the general structure, as presently to be described.

In the drawings, Figure l shows a view of part of a tire, portions being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a cross-section ou the linea; oc of Fig. l.

In the drawings, A represents the rim of a wheel, which may be of metal or any suitable material.

B represents a hollow flexible tire, preferably made of a series of layers of canvas and rubber vulcanized. The outer tread of the tire is somewhat thicker than the inner surface, as shown at a. The walls of the tire are Conveniently of sufficient thickness to withstand considerable load, and in this respect are designed for what is termed largely a cushioned tire.

The inner walls of the tire A are coated with rubber, which rubber is coated with an antifriction material B'. This materialis conveniently composed of the following ingredients: plumbago, beeswax, and vaseline or petroleum,withasufcient amount of turpentine to moisten the mixture. The miXture, in the form of a paste, is applied to the entire inner face of the interior of the tire and forms what may properly be termed a lubricated or antifriction surface, which soon hardens. The antifriction material thus provided and applied constitutes a fixed layer for the contacting faces of the rubber balls, presently referred to, and the inner face of the tire.

C represents a series ot' rubber balls filling the bore of the tire. These balls are conveniently solid and are of a diameter to loosely fit the bore, so as to have a slight movement. The surface of the balls is coated with the material above referred to.

In use as the pressure is brought against the tire it has been demonstrated that there is more or less movement between the surface of the inner Walls of the tire and between the balls. This constant movement has a tendency to wear the surface and largely impair the tire. friction material this wearing is wholly avoided and the life of the tire largely increased.

While I have shown solid balls, it is to be 'understood that hollow balls can be used, if

desired, and also that various other changes can be made without departing from the na ture and principle of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A'tire for vehicles consisting of a hollow rubber tire and a series of rubber balls in the tire, the surface of the balls and the interior of the tire being composed of a fixed coating of hard antifriction material constituting a layer of material, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES KELLY. Witnesses:

WILLIAM R. RYAN, WILLIAM P. HURLEY.

By coating the surface with anti- 

